Design

The Supermarine Spitfire was designed by Reginald J. Mitchell / Reginald Mitchell / R. J. Mitchell. The Spitfire was based on the seaplanes that won the Schneider Trophys.

The design was to meet Air Ministry Specification F.7/30.

Cockpit

The cockpit on the Spitfire had a teardrop hood allowing for good views in the early models. Later models had bubble canopies.

The pilot was protected by a sheet of armor.

Engine

The designers of the Spitfire claimed that the ejector exhaust stubs increased it's speed by 3 mph / 5 kph.

Wing

One of the Spitfire's strengths was it's wing as it had low drag and excellent strength.

Spitfires that were designed for low level attacks had clipped wings to allow for better agility.

Undercarriage

The undercarriage was narrow and retracted outwards. This did not provide a stable platform when landing.

Tail Wheel

In the prototype there was a tail skid, but in the production version a tail wheel replaced it.

Spitfire Mk I

Engine

Early models of the Spitfire Mk I had the Merlin II engine, whereas later models had Merlin III engines. The early models also had a 2 blade propeller, which was later replaced by a 3 blade propeller.

Propellers

The two bladed fixed pitch propeller was replaced by a three bladed variable pitch propeller during 1938-1940.

Spitfire Mk V

The Spitfire Mk V was a design combining the Mk I and Mk II airframe with the Rolls-Royce Merlin 45 engine.

Improvements During Production

The ailerons changed from being fabric covered to metal covered. The Merlin 50 and Merlin 55 engine had negative 'g' carburetors to help eliminate stalls in tight turns and maneuvers. The armor was also increased.

Drop tanks were developed for the Spitfire Mk V.

Tropical Version

A tropical version of the Spitfire Mk V had a large Vokes filter under the nose.

Spitfire Mk VI

The Spitfire Mk VI was designed to intercept high flying German aircraft operating over Britain in 1941.

The Mk VI was based on the Spitfire Mk VB's airframe and wing.

Propeller

The Spitfire Mk VI was the first to have a four blade propeller.

Wings

The wingtips were extended to help with better control at high altitudes.

Cockpit

The cockpit was lightly pressurized (2 psi). This was located between the bulkheads for and aft of the pilot's cabin. The sealed cockpit canopy could not be slid open as it was bolted down and sealed before takeoff.

Fuel

Internal fuel capacity was increased by 33% with the addition of a fuel tank in the rear fuselage.

Spitfire Mk VII

The Spitfire Mk VII was the first substantial redesign of the Spitfire series. Its structure was strengthened.

Engine

The Spitfire Mk VII used a Rolls-Royce Merlin 60 series engine. There were 6 port exhausts. The radiators were symmetrical underwing.

Wing

The 'C' wing had shorter span ailerons and additional fuel tanks in the leading edges. The span was longer to help with high altitude work.

Tail

The tail wheel was retractable. Many had the pointed fin and rudder.

Cabin

The cabin was pressurized to work at high altitudes.

Spitfire Mk VIII

The Spitfire Mk VIII was nearly the same as the Mk VII but without the pressurized cabin as its primary function was to be used at lower altitudes.

Tropicallized

During production the Spitfire Mk VIIIs were tropicallized by having a larger carburetor intake under the nose.

Spitfire Mk IX

The Spitfire Mk IX was designed to battle against the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 that appeared in 1941 as the Mk V was outclassed.

New Engine

Rolls-Royce developed two more powerful engines, the 60 and 70, that were fitted to a modified Mk V.

Spitfire Mk XII

There was a need for a fighter that could combat the hit and run raids of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 that were hitting England's south coast. This lead to the installation of the Rolls-Royce Griffon engine.

Early models were based on the Spitfire Mk V airframe with a fixed tail wheel. Later models were based on the Mk VIII with a retractable tail wheel.

Engine

The fitting of the Rolls-Royce Griffon engine required that the engine cowling design be changed.

Wings

The wings were the clipped 'Cs'.

Tail

The tail rudder was pointed.

Spitfire Mk XIV

The Spitfire next had the Rolls-Royce Griffon 65 engine installed. Along with this engine a 5 bladed propeller was used. As a result the nose was longer and the rudder and fin had to be redesigned to compensate for the engine.

Prototype

The Spitfire prototype (K.5054) first flew on March 1936 / March 5, 1936. It had a Merlin engine and a two bladed propellar. The Spitfire prototype was also able to go 350 mph. An order for 310 was placed in June 1936.

Spitfire Mk I

The Spitfire Mk I first flew on May 14, 1938.

Spitfire Mk III

The Spitfire Mk III prototype first flew in March 1940. An initial order for 1,000 was placed, but this was cancelled when the simpler Spitfire Mk V came along.

Spitfire Mk V

The Spitfire Mk V prototype first flew in December 1940.

Spitfire Mk VI

The prototype first flew in June 1941.

Spitfire Mk VII

The prototype of the Spitfire Mk VII first flew in April 1942.

Spitfire Mk IX

The Spitfire Mk IX prototype first flew in early 1942.

Spitfire Mk XII

The prototype first flew on August 24, 1942.

Spitfire Mk XIV

Six Spitfire Mk VIII were converted to prototypes of the Spitfire Mk XIV. The first one flew in early 1943.